“Shame” is the most intense work so far by young actress Carey Mulligan. It’s true that Carey Mulligan gets totally naked in the shower. It’s true that the film “Shame” (rated NC-17) is a sexually charged movie.

Carey Mulligan gets naked in Shame both physically and emotionally

But, Carey Mulligan does great work as the insecure sister of a sex-addicted brother. Mulligan’s character seems emotionally exhausted. The character of her brother is emotionally sealed off.

The combination makes for an examination of just how people survive dysfunctional family systems. Some become exhausted and needy. Some close off and turn to addiction. All suffer.

As Carey Mulligan’s emotionally starved character says, “We’re not bad people. We just come from a bad place.”

I found Carey Mulligan’s performance in “Shame” to be her best performance to date. She established a range in this movie that far exceeded her other movies, such as “An Education” or “Never Let Me Go”, in which her performances, while solid, were a bit one-dimensional.

And, as bodies go, Ms. Mulligan, who does also appear physically naked in the film, looks alot like your average 26 year old female. If you rent “Shame” just to see Carey Mulligan naked, you’re missing the better part of the movie.

movie poster for Shame where Carey Mulligan gets naked emotionally

“Shame” is rated NC-17, for graphic sexual content. According to the MPAA rating system, the film is not to be viewed by persons under the age of 18.